法國軍隊開進馬裏叛軍最後堡壘

French troops have deployed in the northern Malian city of Kidal, the last major rebel stronghold remaining after operations to retake control in Gaoand Timbuktu.

French military officials said Wednesday the troops deployed overnight, continuing a week-long push to recapture the main cities in northern Mali.

The secular Tuareg rebel group MNLA said, earlier this week, its fighters had taken control of Kidal.

The Tuareg rebels joined with Islamist militants to seize northern Mali following a March coup. The two groups later split in a dispute about Sharia law and the Islamists asserted control of the region.

French and Malian troops searched houses in Timbuktu and Gao on Tuesday, recovering weapons and explosives left by fleeing Islamists. At least five people suspected of collaborating with the militants were detained in Gao.

In Timbuktu, residents looted stores owned by Arabs and Tuaregs suspected of working with the militants, who left earlier this week.法國軍隊已經部署在馬裏北部城市基達爾。收復加奧和廷巴克圖的行動結束後，基達爾成爲反政府武裝的最後一個重要堡壘。

法國軍方官員星期三說，法國軍隊夜間完成了部署，繼續進行一星期來的收復馬裏北部主要城市的行動。

世俗的圖阿雷格反政府武裝馬裏北方圖阿雷格運動(MNLA)本星期早些時候說，該組織的戰鬥人員控制了基達爾。

去年3月政變後，圖阿雷格反政府武裝分子與伊斯蘭激進分子一道奪取馬裏北部地區。隨後雙方由於實施伊斯蘭法規問題而分裂，伊斯蘭激進分子宣稱控制了該地區。

星期二，法國和馬裏軍隊在廷巴克圖和加奧進行挨家挨戶的搜查，收繳逃離的伊斯蘭激進分子留下的武器和炸藥。在加奧，至少五名涉嫌與伊斯蘭激進分子合作的人被逮捕。

在廷巴克圖的居民搶劫涉嫌與伊斯蘭激進分子合作的阿拉伯人和圖阿雷格人開的店鋪。本星期早些時候，伊斯蘭激進分子逃離廷巴克圖。